Google Pixel 6a review: small, but strong

Released at 459 €, we now find the Pixel 6a around 340 €. We will see that if the price was already interesting 8 months ago, it has become a shocking argument in this month of March 2023. Let’s start by talking about the look and its more compact format than that of its big brothers. The device contrasts a little with the windsurfers of the moment: it holds well in hand and has the good idea to offer a plastic back, less heavy while remaining classy. You will have to be satisfied with 128 GB of storage because there is no drawer for a micro SD. If the device is eSIM compatible, you will only be able to put one physical nano-SIM card. The device offers IP67 protection: dust resistant and can withstand immersion up to 1 meter. The Google Pixel 6a of course comes with Bluetooth 5.2 and WiFi 6, but the box is very empty… Indeed, we won’t find a charger, no headphones and no case. There is a USB-C cable, and an OTG adapter to connect a USB-A key for example. It’s skinny.

Pixel and Android: a unique duo

Of course, the Pixel 6a has upgraded to Android 13 and it will be one of the first models to benefit from the upcoming “Upside Down Cake”, the fourteenth version of the operating system. Since the Pixel 6, the range also offers 5 years of security patches. You also have Google Pixel “Feature Drops”: updates and new features that “drop” by surprise, such as:

A screen that does not really impress

The Pixel 6a screen skips the Gorilla Glass Victus to offer Gorilla Glass 3 glass. Another budget cut. The bezels are wider than on its cousins, but the 6.1-inch (15.5 cm) OLED panel isn’t bad. Admittedly, we don’t have the “Wouha” effect of a Galaxy S… The only small problem is the refresh at 60 Hz. At Xiaomi, for example, even the mid-range Redmi offer 90 Hz. So it’s not eliminatory for us, but if you had a 120 Hz device, the difference is visible. You will have to get used to a less fluid display. Performance-wise, it’s pretty good. The Tensor chip with 6 GB of RAM is comfortable in all circumstances. It’s a winning combo whether for greedy apps, multitasking or gaming. Like its big brother, the device heats up a bit when it is used.

The strong point: the photo!

The Google Pixel are renowned for their skills in the field of photography. With a ridiculous price, we were entitled to ask questions about this Pixel 6a. It took us less than half a day to reassure ourselves. The Pixel 6a offers a 12.2-megapixel main lens with no pixel binning. It’s a slap since the shots are comparable to those of the Pixel 6. Admittedly, it sometimes lacks naturalness, but the photos are not lacking in sharpness, respect the colors and offer good contrast.

At night, it is also very effective even if it is a slight notch below the Pixel 6 which has a 50 MP sensor. Be careful, we compare the Pixel 6a to the cador of the genre: it still ruins the competition. In this price range, you won’t find better night shots than the Pixel 6a. It’s accurate with little digital noise.

As far as the ultra wide-angle is concerned, the equipment is the same as on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro: when the conditions are good, the shots are very successful with controlled distortion and correct sharpness at the periphery. At night it is necessarily more complicated, but the device does well with an artificial light source, even if it is not very powerful.

On the selfie side, it’s very suitable without making a spark. The clipping is quite precise. Finally, we can make videos in 4K at 60 fps with several stabilization modes.

Good battery life but century-old fast charging

When it comes to battery life, we weren’t disappointed. With a slightly less powerful battery (4410 mAh against 4600 mAh), the Pixel 6a is doing as well as its big brother. The device is more than capable of getting through the day and if you ever have the device in your hands all the time or have missed the chance to charge it, the ultra power saving mode works wonders.

On the other hand, the black point concerns the power of the load. If the 33 Watts was a bit disappointing on the Pixel 6, the Pixel 6a only offers 18 Watts. It will take more than 1h40 to go from 0 to 100%. To go from 12% to 60%, we had to wait 40 minutes. Please note that the Pixel 6a is not compatible with wireless charging and reverse charging.

Our Verdict:

The Pixel 6a is undoubtedly the device that convinces the most in this price range. Gifted in photography and very powerful, it also offers an impeccable software experience and a very nice look. Inevitably, Google had to make some cuts in the budget and some features are missing. The 18 Watt load seems dated and the 60Hz display is a bit outdated, but if you forget about those two aspects – not a deal breaker – the Pixel 6a is still the best value for money. in this range.

Shooting tests